​Science Museum Research Centre

by Coffey Architects

Client Science Museum
Awards RIBA London Award 2017

Situated within the Science Museum’s existing Welcome Wolfson Building, this scheme forms part of a wider masterplan for the museum. The project re-orders the lower two floors to form a new research and library space, with a central reading room as its focal point. A new route through the building establishes a connection to the museum from Queens Gate.

Central to the project is a new perforated screen to the double-height glass façade: a laser cut ‘canopy’ which creates a dappled play of light across the interior and shields it from the sun.

The architects have produced an elegant new space for the museum, which is simply ordered and well detailed. Although internal, the new screen animates the façade to the courtyard whilst improving the proportions the existing building.

Contractor Paragon
Structural Engineers Fothergill
M&E Engineers SVM
Quantity Surveyor Turner & Townsend
Lighting Design ZNA
Internal Area 545 m²